The Energetics of Food
Traditional Chinese Medicine has an Eastern philosophy that can offer the individual an alternative view on nutritional value, focusing particularly on the energetics of food as opposed to its chemical ingredients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) nutritional advice, also places emphasises on the environment in which food is consumed, an aspect which western advice rarely address.
Eastern and western views
In the West, food is described as containing certain amounts of protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and other varying ingredients. This is done by separating foods into their basic ingredients. The nutritional value of a food is a statement of the sum total of its chemical ingredients before they enter your body.
In the East, food is described as possessing certain qualities such as a warming or cooling nature, processing certain flavours or acting on our body in a certain way. This information is obtained by observing the behaviour of the body after a food has been consumed. The nutritional value of a food is stated as a set of energetic properties which describe the actions a food has on the human body.
Temperature of foods
Although the energetic temperature of foods is an Eastern philosophy, a knowledge of the temperature of foods is intrinsic to all traditional cooking. For example hot lamb is balanced with a cool mint sauce, a warming curry is balanced with cooling cucumber and yoghurt, root vegetable soups warm us in winter and salads cool us in summer.
The ‘actual’ temperature of food is however also important because the digestive system needs a level of ‘heat’ to digest food in just the same way that we need to cook food. For this reason if food is eaten directly from the fridge or there are iced drinks, the stomach will have to warm the food to 38 degrees before it can start to digest it – this takes a lot of energy.
Actions of Foods
Some foods can also have specific therapeutic actions, they can tonify and nourish a body substance or function e.g. Yin, Yang, Qi and Blood or they can reduce the influence of a pathological condition e.g. Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Dampness, Heat or Cold. Dampness and cold are particularly important to avoid as because it impairs the Stomach and spleen, conversely a weak spleen can give rise to internal Damp and so the cycle gets worse.
What other ways can we get the most from our food and so replenish our energy?
Enjoying food
If we are happy when we eat and happy in our relationship with food, then our bodies will literally accept the food more effectively into our system.
Relaxation
The Chinese believe it is better not to mix food and work. Our digestive system works best when we are focused on our enjoyment of the meal, not distracted or troubled by other influences
Crossing legs, sitting twisted or hunched will compress our digestive organs and hinder the passage of food through our body.
Chew food well
Well chewed food lessens the work our digestive organs have to do and increases the efficient extraction of nutrients. Chewing also warms chilled food.
Stop before you are full
If we overeat at any one meal, we create stagnation a temporary queue of food waiting to be processed. As a result we feel tired while our energy is occupied digesting the excess food.
Don’t flood the Spleen
The Spleen does not like too much fluid with a meal. A little warm fluid with a meal is helpful but too much dilutes the Spleen’s action and weakens digestion.
Eat Breakfast like a king, Lunch like a Prince and Dinner like a pauper
Our digestive systems are at their strongest between 7.00am and 9.00am, and their weakest between 7.00pm and 9.00pm.
Avoid eating late at night
The digestive system can’t cope with a large meal when the metabolism is already slowing down. In the short term this will overburden the digestive system, possibly disturbing your sleep.
If you are eating, just eat
Your blood can only be in one place at a time – when eating it is needed in your digestive system. If you are doing something else, your blood will be diverted to another part of your body and you will be less able to digest, if you stand or walk blood will be diverted to your legs. If you watch television, read, drive or work, blood will be diverted to your brain. For this reason eating on the go, business lunches and TV dinners, can all weaken your digestive system.
Trust your body
Sometime we crave our poison, but there is in each of us a deeper level of knowing. As we bring our awareness to our eating, we can begin to feel what our true needs are, what truly nourishes us.
Variety is the spice of life
Eat a wide range of different foods rather than sticking to the same old things. Try to eat a range of different coloured vegetables – red, orange, green, purple, yellow – with every meal. Not only does this look appealing, but you will be getting a good range of nutrients.
Reduce sugar
Sugar and all highly sweet foods can overwhelm the Spleen. The over- consumption of sugar easily leads to intestinal fermentation and creates a happy home for intestinal parasites. It also weakens the blood and destabilises energy levels.
The stomach likes regularity
Try to make your mealtimes as regular as possible, as your body will prepare for digestion. Avoid missing meals, which will weaken the digestive fluids.
Food preparation
Food prepared as a gift, served calmly, eaten with respect and digested in a harmonious atmosphere bestows positive benefits. Food thrown together without regard or with resentment, in a hurry, gobbled down, or eaten while driving, watching TV or even reading cannot be assimilated healthfully.
The process of digestion involves breaking down into a warm soup in the Stomach. It is then ready to be transformed. The Spleen extracts the essences (or flavours) from this soup, turns them into useable substances then sends them to where they are needed. The cooking method most resembling the Stomach’s action is the preparation of soups and stews. This soupy mixture is already warmed and broken down for the Spleen to act upon. Soups and stews are therefore the most Spleen-supportive meals.
References
Leggett, D. (2003) ) Helping Ourselves – A Guide to Traditional Chinese Food Energetics Great Britain: Meridian Press. p7, p11, p15, p16, p54
Leggett, D. (2005) Recipes for Self-Healing Great Britain: Meridian Press.
p45, p2, p119, p140, p272, p274
Hicks, A. (2001) 5 Secrets of Health and Happiness Great Britain: Thorsons.
p35, p36, p43
Free 'Energetics of food' download
Below is a PDF, which lists the energetics of various foods and the actions they provide.
